Rehab varsity VC restrained from official work
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The council never heard my version and has not given me an opportunity to explain my position. No appointment was made without the approval of the executive council. I have followed all rules and regulations in the appointment of teachers
PROF NISHITH RAI, VC, rehabilitation university
LUCKNOW :The state government on Saturday restrained Prof Nishith Rai, vice chancellor of Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow, from discharging duty till the judicial inquiry into corruption charges against him is over.
The general council of the university held a meeting on Saturday in which it was decided to restrain Rai from official work . A retired judge of the high court will probe the charges against him.
Besides corruption, Rai is accused of hiding information related to directorship of Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (RCUES) that he was holding when he was appointed vice chancellor on January 28, 2014.
This is for the second time the state government has restrained Rai from discharging official duties. Last time, in August 2017, Rai was directed to not perform official work in the capacity of vice chancellor. However, Rai got relief from the court.
Rai had written a letter to chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is also the chairperson of the general council, objecting to holding of general council meeting on Saturday. Rai said ever since the Yogi government came to power in March 2017, it was only engaged in dislodging him from the post of vice chancellor so that it may appoint another vice chancellor of its choice.
Rai said that Saturday’s general council meeting was illegal and he was compelled to approach the high court again for justice. Those who are in the know of things said the office of the chief minister had received several complaints against Prof Rai over irregularities in the appointment of teachers. Many of the appointments were made without the approval of the executive council, the highest body of the university.
It was alleged that Prof Rai used his influence in the previous government to get this post. The Akhilesh Yadav government had appointed Nishith Rai as vice chancellor in January, 2014.
Rai said, “The council never heard my version and has not given me an opportunity to explain my position. No appointment was made without the approval of the executive council. I have followed all rules and regulations in the appointment of teachers.”